The BEST episodes of Pokémon

#1 - An Undersea Place to Call Home!

Season 16 - Episode 50 - Aired 11/20/2014

After encountering the Mock Kelp Pokémon Skrelp on the Muraille coastline, Ash and his friends join two marine archaeologists on an expedition to the sunken luxury liner known as the Cussler where Skrelp, Dragalge, and several marine Pokémon live. However, Team Rocket has their sights set on capturing all of the Pokémon that call the Cussler home.

#2 - Pushing the Fiery Envelope!

Season 18 - Episode 63 - Aired 2/22/2018

Ash challenges the greatest battle royal fighter with his Litten.

#3 - Battling on the Wing!

Season 18 - Episode 133 - Aired 8/4/2019

The Alola Pokémon League quarterfinals continue at a lightning pace, and Ash and Rowlet are in the midst of their battle with Hau and Decidueye. The attacks fly furiously—just like the competitors themselves—until it appears that Rowlet is unable to battle. But Hala notices that Rowlet hasn’t lost yet…it’s actually just sleeping! The battle restarts, and after mastering a new move, Rowlet ends up victorious! Then, Kiawe and Charizard face off against Sophocles and Vikavolt, and the latter two successfully pull off a Z-Move—will Charizard be able to escape the devastating attack?

#4 - Advice to Goh!

Season 19 - Episode 68 - Aired 5/28/2021

#5 - A Young Royal Flame Ignites!

Season 18 - Episode 81 - Aired 7/5/2018

Another exciting Battle Royal is under way! It’s the Masked Royal versus the Revengers, a battle team known for their blatant rule-breaking.

#6 - Battle Royal 151!

Season 18 - Episode 129 - Aired 7/7/2019

The Alola Pokémon League is underway, and it promises to be full of action, drama, and surprises! The qualifying round is a Battle Royal competition among 151 different Trainers, and only the top 16 will make it to the next stage! A free-for-all ensues, with our heroes battling against and alongside friendly rivals like Pikala and Hiroki as well as returning foes like Viren’s cronies and Plumeria from Team Skull. When the dizzying action finally winds down, the entire Pokémon School class, Hau, Gladion, and even a disguised Team Rocket are among those left standing! Now, the question is: who will make it all the way to the top?

#7 - Battling Besties!

Season 18 - Episode 130 - Aired 7/14/2019

The Alola Pokémon League is down to 16 competitors, and Ash and Faba are set to battle! Pikachu lets Meltan take the spotlight—and that it does, winning the match against Faba’s Hypno. Then, Ilima and Kangaskhan take on Guzma and Scizor, but after undergoing Mega Evolution, Kangaskhan falters and is defeated. In the third match, Hau’s Raichu uses speed to overtake Principal Oak’s Exeggutor. Finally, Lana and Mallow face off, but Mallow nearly gives up when she starts falling behind. Lana encourages her to persevere, and Mallow and Tsareena pull off their first Z-Move! Lana and Primarina end up winning the match, but Mallow’s still happy for her friend!

#8 - The Battlefield of Truth and Love!

Season 18 - Episode 131 - Aired 7/21/2019

As the Alola Pokémon League continues, it’s time to decide on four more competitors to move to the next round! First up is Sophocles and Vikavolt against Mina and Ribombee, and while Ribombee is powerful, it’s no match for Vikavolt’s Signal Beam! Then, it’s a Team Rocket showdown as James and Mareanie take on Jessie and Wobbuffet. The match is close, but James decides to give it his all—and wins! After that, Kiawe and Marowak defeat Acerola and Rapooh in a ghostly clash, and Lillie and Snowy face off against Gladion and Umbreon. Lillie’s skills are impressive, but Gladion still pulls off the win. On to the next round!

#9 - Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Strategy!

Season 18 - Episode 132 - Aired 7/28/2019

Rowlet is determined to battle Decidueye in Ash’s Alola Pokémon League quarterfinals match against Hau, but first it needs some additional training. And just in the nick of time, Toucannon and its flock arrive to teach Rowlet a new move! Meanwhile, at Manalo Stadium, Gladion and his Lycanroc defeat James and Mareanie…and then Ash is up next! Rowlet enters the battlefield dressed in a Decidueye costume, which ends up becoming a decoy against the real Decidueye’s Sinister Arrow Raid attack! With Rowlet still standing, how will the rest of the match play out?

#10 - The Road to the Semifinals!

Season 18 - Episode 134 - Aired 8/11/2019

As the Alola Pokémon League quarterfinals rage on, Kiawe and Charizard face off against Sophocles and Vikavolt in the third battle. Both sides show impressive offense and defense, making it clear they’ve trained hard. But Vikavolt’s Wild Charge attack isn’t enough to stop Charizard’s Supersonic Skystrike Z-Move, and Kiawe and Charizard end up on top! In the fourth match, Lana and Primarina battle Guzma and Golisopod, but Guzma’s intense battling style takes Lana and Primarina by surprise. Despite a valiant effort, Primarina takes significant damage and loses the battle, but everyone agrees Guzma won fair and square. Next up are the semifinals: Kiawe versus Gladion and Ash versus Guzma!

#11 - The Final Four!

Season 18 - Episode 135 - Aired 8/18/2019

Four Trainers are ready to compete in the Alola Pokémon League semifinals: Ash, Gladion, Guzma, and Kiawe. Mimo has come to cheer Kiawe on, but after getting lost on the way to the stadium, she is confronted by Team Skull! Gladion saves the day—and then goes on to battle her big brother! The first match of the semifinals reflects much hard work and skill by both Trainers. When Marowak is knocked out, Kiawe brings out Turtonator—and when it defeats Gladion’s Lycanroc, he calls for the mighty beast Silvally! Now it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious and move on!

#12 - Getting Down to The Ire!

Season 18 - Episode 136 - Aired 8/25/2019

In the first match of the Alola Pokémon League semifinals, Gladion changes Silvally into a Fire type at the perfect moment to withstand Turtonator’s Z-Move and defeat Kiawe! Then, it’s Guzma and Scizor versus Ash and Torracat. Guzma immediately uses U-turn to switch Scizor out for Golisopod, and the battle seems to be going well. But after taking damage, Golisopod suddenly returns to its Poké Ball, forcing Scizor back into the battle—and directly into the path of Torracat’s Fire Blast! It’s super effective! Scizor is defeated in a single hit, and as Guzma loses his temper and yells at Golisopod, everyone is left to wonder—what will happen next?

#13 - Enter the Champion!

Season 18 - Episode 139 - Aired 9/15/2019

As the Alola Pokémon League races toward the finish line, Gladion and Zoroark unleash the Z-Move Never-Ending Nightmare against Pikachu. But Pikachu stops in its tracks to meet the threat head-on with Breakneck Blitz: a strategy that’s pure Ash! The clash of Z-Moves leaves both Pokémon unable to battle, and Ash and Gladion both respond by sending out their Lycanroc for the final stretch of the match. The two Lycanroc battle to new levels of intensity, ending with the first ever Alolan champion!

#14 - A Full Battle Bounty!

Season 18 - Episode 142 - Aired 10/6/2019

The Alola Pokémon League’s exhibition match continues with a dizzying array of Pokémon!

#15 - When Light and Dark Collide!

Season 16 - Episode 51 - Aired 11/27/2014

Ash unknowingly disrupts a play rehearsal, sending its star Gallade out of commission. Ash's Hawlucha and the odd-colored Hawlucha "villain" must work together to get the play back on track while trying to deal with Team Rocket.

#16 - A Campus Reunion!

Season 16 - Episode 47 - Aired 10/23/2014

Clemont returns to his old school where he relives his younger years and reminisces about a Shinx he had befriended, but was forced to leave it behind after his graduation celebration. When he reunites with it, it has evolved into Luxio ever since and Clemont tries to heal the rift that was caused a few years ago.

#17 - Healing the Healer!

Season 19 - Episode 53 - Aired 1/29/2021

#18 - Absol Absolved!

Season 19 - Episode 64 - Aired 4/30/2021

#19 - Showering the World with Love!

Season 18 - Episode 79 - Aired 6/14/2018

While visiting an observatory run by Sophocles's cousin, the classmates run into a new Pokémon, Minior, that makes a connection with Ash's Poipole.

#20 - Exhibition Unmasked!

Season 18 - Episode 141 - Aired 9/29/2019

The wayward Guzzlord have been sent back through their Ultra Wormholes, and it’s time for Ash, the first Alola Pokémon League Champion, to have his exhibition match against the Masked Royal! Of course, the Masked Royal’s true identity has been revealed, and everyone is excited to see Ash take on Professor Kukui. The six-versus-six Full Battle begins with Professor Kukui’s Incineroar going up against Ash’s Torracat, but you can bet that the match will take many twists and turns before a winner is decided!

#21 - From Z to Shining Z!

Season 18 - Episode 144 - Aired 10/20/2019

Ash's exhibition match with Professor Kukui continues, with Tapu Koko having unexpectedly entered the match.

#22 - Thrash of the Titans!

Season 19 - Episode 65 - Aired 5/7/2021

#23 - Rescuing the Unwilling!

Season 18 - Episode 53 - Aired 12/7/2017

Our heroes have made it through the Ultra Wormhole, but when they find the captured Lusamine, they’re shocked to find she wants nothing to do with them! With an Ultra Beast controlling her mind, it’s up to Lillie, Ash, and friends to rescue her. Their Pokémon spring into action—but so do Lusamine’s Pokémon, who are also under the Ultra Beast’s control. Lillie gathers her courage and reaches out to Clefable, recounting the fun they had together in years past. Her reassuring persistence pays off, and Clefable breaks free of the Ultra Beast’s control. Meanwhile, riding on Solgaleo’s back, Ash presses on to find Lusamine—and the Ultra Beast.

#24 - A Guardian Rematch

Season 18 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/23/2017

Ash really wants to have a rematch against Tapu Koko, but he’s not sure about his strategy. Sophocles, who studies Electric-type Pokémon, offers to help! After some research and training at Sophocles Lab, Ash and Pikachu are ready for battle, and so is Tapu Koko.

#25 - One Journey Ends, Another Begins...

Season 18 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/6/2017

After stealing his groceries again, the wild Litten comes to Ash for help when its friend Stoutland starts to have trouble breathing. Ash struggles to get it to the Pokémon Center...but Stoutland is old, and there’s not much Nurse Joy can do.